The Boy's Own Annual

This 1910 Boy's Own Annual demonstrates the popular culture of masculinity, violence, ethnic stereotypes and derring-do consumed by many boys and young men in the years leading up to the First World War (1914-19).

It was presented to Leonard Maxwell Morrison (1897-1974) for General Proficiency when he was about 13 years old at Kaikorai School, Dunedin. The giving of books was a common acknowledgment of scholastic achievement.

The Boy's Own Annual was an annual volume reprinting the contents of The Boy's Own Paper, a London-based children's weekly. It ran in various forms from 1879 until 1967. The paper and annual were aimed at young and teenage boys throughout the British Empire, and included adventure stories, nature studies, sports and games, school life, puzzles and essay competitions. They were published by the Religious Tract Society as a means to encourage younger children to read, and to instil Christian morals during their formative years. They overtly promoted the British Empire as the epitome of civilisation. A female counterpart - The Girl’s Own Paper - was also published by the Society.

The cover of this book features an heroic image of white male prowess - a cowboy riding a galloping horse shoots a wolf while being chased by a pack of wolves. On the spine is a stereotypical image of a Native American man menacingly holding a knife and gun.

Around the same time as receiving this book, Leonard Morrison would have undertaken compulsory military training like other boys and young men of his generation. Such training instilled values of imperialism, militarism and discipline, and essentially prepared young people for war.

By 1915, Morrison was an excellent marksman, winning the Cadets Ladies Challenge Cup in Dunedin. Near the end of the First World War (1914-19), he served in the 38th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington in June 1918. He was poisoned by gas while serving in France. He survived and went on to take part in the occupation of Germany in 1919.